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Statutory interpretation

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Articles 241 - 270 of 289

Full-Text Articles in Legislation

Law And Language: The Role Of Pragmatics In Statutory Interpretation, M. B.W. Sinclair Jan 1985

Law And Language: The Role Of Pragmatics In Statutory Interpretation, M. B.W. Sinclair

Articles by Maurer Faculty

In everyday conversation social conventions constrain our speech and aid understanding of the speech of others. These social conventions have been analyzed by the philosopher H.P. Grice and others. Professor Sinclair explores the applicability of such conventions to statutes and thereby derives a set of pragmatic rules of statutory construction. These rules explain some of the intuitions underlying "canons of construction" and their limitations and provide a basis for understanding and for criticizing some important judicial decisions.

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The Canons Of Indian Treaty And Statutory Construction: A Proposal For Codification, Jill De La Hunt Apr 1984

The Canons Of Indian Treaty And Statutory Construction: A Proposal For Codification, Jill De La Hunt

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note argues that the canons of construction should play a central role in the interpretation of Indian treaties and statutes. The Note proposes revitalization of the canons through congressional action codifying the rules of construction into federal law. Part I traces the historical development of the canons to further the federal-Indian trust relationship. Part II analyzes recent Supreme Court decisions that demonstrate decreased use of the canons. Part III argues that strong canons of construction are necessary to the development of self-determining Indian tribes and proposes federal legislation to ensure the continued vitality and importance of the canons of …

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Section 558( C ) Of The Administrative Procedure Act: Provision For Informal Agency Hearings Prior To License Revocation Or Suspension, Joan P. Snyder Jan 1984

Section 558( C ) Of The Administrative Procedure Act: Provision For Informal Agency Hearings Prior To License Revocation Or Suspension, Joan P. Snyder

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note argues that section 558(c) should be interpreted to require an agency to provide a hearing prior to license suspension or revocation. Part I argues that all courts that have adjudicated whether section 558(c) requires a hearing have misconstrued the statute by failing to consider the general policies served by the APA. Part II examines section 558(c) in light of the major policies of the APA, uniformity and fairness in administrative procedure. It argues that these policies are best served by an interpretation that requires a hearing prior to suspension or revocation of any federal license. It does, however, …

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Statutory Interpretation In America: Dipping Into Legislative History, Part I, Reed Dickerson Jan 1984

Statutory Interpretation In America: Dipping Into Legislative History, Part I, Reed Dickerson

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

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Statutory Interpretation In America: Dipping Into Legislative History, Part Ii, Reed Dickerson Jan 1984

Statutory Interpretation In America: Dipping Into Legislative History, Part Ii, Reed Dickerson

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

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Does Nepa Require An Impact Statement On Inaction?, Michigan Law Review Apr 1983

Does Nepa Require An Impact Statement On Inaction?, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This Note considers the question of whether NEPA requires an EIS in cases of official refusal to exercise discretionary agency authority. Part I develops the competing theories for resolving this question. The current judicial attitude, which has excluded important cases with far-reaching environmental effects from the EIS requirement, plainly frustrates the statute's procedural purposes. Regulations promulgated by the Council on Environmental Quality define "major federal action" to include the failure to act under certain circumstances, and offer one alternative to the current approach. But the regulations condition the classification of inaction as action upon reviewability under the Administrative Procedures Act, …

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The Twentieth-Century Primacy Of Statutory Law, Albert Tate Jr. Mar 1983

The Twentieth-Century Primacy Of Statutory Law, Albert Tate Jr.

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Dealing with Statutes by James Williard Hurst

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Common Sense About The Age Of Statutes, Steve Macisaac Mar 1983

Common Sense About The Age Of Statutes, Steve Macisaac

Michigan Law Review

A Review of A Common Law for the Age of Statutes by Guido Calabresi

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Statutory Interpretation: Dipping Into Legislative History, Reed Dickerson Jan 1983

Statutory Interpretation: Dipping Into Legislative History, Reed Dickerson

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

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The Emergence Of A General Reformation Doctrine For Wills, Lawrence W. Waggoner, John H. Langbein Jan 1983

The Emergence Of A General Reformation Doctrine For Wills, Lawrence W. Waggoner, John H. Langbein

Articles

In this article, which both summarizes and updates an extensively footnoted article published last year ("Reformation of Wills on the Ground of Mistake: Change of Direction in American Law?" 130 University of Pennsylvania Law Rmiew 521 (1982)), we report on this new case law and discuss the analytic framework that we think it suggests and requires.

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Avoiding Liens Under The New Bankruptcy Code: Construction And Application Of Section 522(F), Judy Toyer Apr 1982

Avoiding Liens Under The New Bankruptcy Code: Construction And Application Of Section 522(F), Judy Toyer

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This Note argues that strict construction of section 522(f)(2) is most consistent with congressional intent. Part I discusses the congressional rationale behind lien avoidance. Part II examines present efforts to apply section 522(f)(2), and concludes that judicial interpretation to date has proved largely inadequate. Finally, Part III proposes new judicial guidelines and statutory amendments designed to standardize application of the lien avoidance provision in a manner consistent with the congressional intent behind the Reform Act.

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Awarding Attorneys' Fees To Prevailing Pro Se Litigants, Michigan Law Review Apr 1982

Awarding Attorneys' Fees To Prevailing Pro Se Litigants, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This Note examines- the propriety of awarding attorneys' fees to prevailing pro se litigants in the federal courts. It focuses on the four major statutes under which almost all pro se cases have been filed: the Freedom of Information Act of 1974 (FOIA), the Privacy Act of 1974 (Privacy Act), the Civil Rights Attorney's Fees Awards Act of 1976 (CRAFAA), and the Truth in Lending Act (TILA). In so doing, it will attempt to devise common principles that can be applied to most requests for pro se attorneys' fees. Part I looks first to the statutes' language and legislative histories …

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Reformation Of Wills On The Ground Of Mistake: Change Of Direction In American Law?, John H. Langbein, Lawrence W. Waggoner Jan 1982

Reformation Of Wills On The Ground Of Mistake: Change Of Direction In American Law?, John H. Langbein, Lawrence W. Waggoner

Articles

Although it has been "axiomatic" that our courts do not entertain suits to reform wills on the ground of mistake, appellate courts in California, New Jersey, and New York have decided cases within the last five years that may presage the abandonment of the ancient "no-reformation" rule. The new cases do not purport to make this fundamental doctrinal change, although the California Court of Appeal in Estate of Taff and the New Jersey Supreme Court in Engle v. Siegel did expressly disclaim a related rule, sometimes called the "plain meaning" rule. That rule, which hereafter we will call the "no-extrinsic-evidence …

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Implying A Cause Of Action Under Section 503 Of The Rehabilitation Act Of 1973, Michigan Law Review Apr 1981

Implying A Cause Of Action Under Section 503 Of The Rehabilitation Act Of 1973, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This Note urges courts to recognize a private right of action under section 503. Part I reviews all the evidence of legislative intent available today. It concludes that by now the congressional desire for a private right of action has become abundantly clear. Part II examines the more difficult issue of when that congressional desire crystallized into law. It finds ample reliable evidence that a private right of action has existed since Congress first passed section 503 in 1973.

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Filing For Personal Bankruptcy: Adoption Of A "Bona Fide Effort" Test Under Chapter 13, Stephan M. Vidmar Jan 1981

Filing For Personal Bankruptcy: Adoption Of A "Bona Fide Effort" Test Under Chapter 13, Stephan M. Vidmar

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Part I discusses the history and current application of the Chapter 13 wage earner relief provisions, focusing on the present "good faith" controversy. Part II analyzes the "bona fide effort" test and examines its current congressional status. Part III suggests that more specific statutory guidance is necessary in order to effectively apply the "bona fide effort" test and recommends specific guidelines for its use. The article concludes that by following such a set of standard guidelines when applying the "bona fide effort" test, bankruptcy courts would promote uniform treatment of debtors, enhance judicial economy, and facilitate appellate review of Chapter …

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Wage Discrimination And Job Segregation: The Survival Of A Theory, Ruth G. Blumrosen Oct 1980

Wage Discrimination And Job Segregation: The Survival Of A Theory, Ruth G. Blumrosen

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

My earlier article in this journal, Wage Discrimination, Job Segregation, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, advanced the theory that the same discriminatory factors which lead to job segregation are also likely to be responsible for wage differentials between segregated jobs. The discriminatorily depressed wage rate of the segregated job is therefore one of the "adverse effects" under Griggs v. Duke Power Co. of job segregation. In order to establish a prima facie case of wage discrimination in a Title VII action, plaintiffs must show the fact of job segregation - that the jobs were …

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Political Broadcasting After The Aspen Ruling: Legislative Reform Of Section 315(A) Of The Communications Act Of 1934, Stuart N. Brotman Oct 1979

Political Broadcasting After The Aspen Ruling: Legislative Reform Of Section 315(A) Of The Communications Act Of 1934, Stuart N. Brotman

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The FCC's new interpretation of section 315(a) in the Aspen ruling greatly reduced its inhibitory effect on broadcasters. The ruling, however, has created further interpretive problems regarding the broadcast debate format, and has not completely resolved the more general problem of giving the electorate greater and more direct exposure to candidates during campaigns through programming that forces candidates to confront each other on the major issues. This article will discuss the. background of section 315(a), then explain each of its exemptions. Finally, it will propose possible reforms in the area of political broadcasting in light of the Aspen ruling.

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From Feres To Stencel: Should Military Personnel Have Access To Ftca Recovery, Michigan Law Review Apr 1979

From Feres To Stencel: Should Military Personnel Have Access To Ftca Recovery, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This Note reevaluates the Feres doctrine in light of legal developments of the past three decades. It concludes that the FTCA should be extended to military claims. It discusses the arguments that military claims will burden vital government functions and shows that the exception to liability under the present FTCA, particularly the exception for "discretionary actions" by government employees, would adequately protect all legitimate military interests.

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Implication Of Civil Remedies Under The Indian Civil Rights Act, Michigan Law Review Nov 1976

Implication Of Civil Remedies Under The Indian Civil Rights Act, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This Note will discuss neither -the wisdom of the express provisions of ICRA nor the desirability of express creation by Congress of a federal civil remedy. The purpose of this Note is, instead, to analyze the bases upon which remedies have been implied by federal courts and to question whether implication is consistent with standards of statutory interpretation appropriate for Indian law. It is contended that the implication of federal civil remedies against Indian governments is improper and that if such remedies are to be created, precedent and policy mandate that they be the product of Congress. The Note will …

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Statutory Interpretation: An Outline Of Method, Jodn M. Kernochan Oct 1976

Statutory Interpretation: An Outline Of Method, Jodn M. Kernochan

Dalhousie Law Journal

We are moving ever more surely and deeply these days into an age of legislation. In the past, judge-made law was the dominant feature, as it was also the matrix, the fundamental and pervasive stuff, of our legal system. Statutes were scattered islands in the ocean of common law. For some time they were regarded by the courts as peculiar incursions on the system, troubling the harmony of caselaw patterns. A legislative enactment was seen, in the words of the late Chief Justice Stone, as an "alien intruder in the house of the common law." But change has come and …

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Statutory Interpretation: An Outline Of Method, Jodn M. Kernochan Oct 1976

Statutory Interpretation: An Outline Of Method, Jodn M. Kernochan

Dalhousie Law Journal

We are moving ever more surely and deeply these days into an age of legislation. In the past, judge-made law was the dominant feature, as it was also the matrix, the fundamental and pervasive stuff, of our legal system. Statutes were scattered islands in the ocean of common law. For some time they were regarded by the courts as peculiar incursions on the system, troubling the harmony of caselaw patterns. A legislative enactment was seen, in the words of the late Chief Justice Stone, as an "alien intruder in the house of the common law." But change has come and …

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Statutory Interpretation: An Outline Of Method, Jodn M. Kernochan Oct 1976

Statutory Interpretation: An Outline Of Method, Jodn M. Kernochan

Dalhousie Law Journal

We are moving ever more surely and deeply these days into an age of legislation. In the past, judge-made law was the dominant feature, as it was also the matrix, the fundamental and pervasive stuff, of our legal system. Statutes were scattered islands in the ocean of common law. For some time they were regarded by the courts as peculiar incursions on the system, troubling the harmony of caselaw patterns. A legislative enactment was seen, in the words of the late Chief Justice Stone, as an "alien intruder in the house of the common law." But change has come and …

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Standing To Sue Under The Model Land Development Code, Richard L. Epling Jan 1976

Standing To Sue Under The Model Land Development Code, Richard L. Epling

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

The Model Land Development Code was promulgated by the American Law Institute as the paradigm for state legislatures to follow when enacting land use laws for the future. The Code is not intended to create uniformity among state laws. Instead, states may use the articles of the Code as models in drafting legislation that is more specifically suited to their needs. Article Nine, which states rules of standing to participate in land use disputes, poses a potential obstacle to would-be public interest litigants. This note will explore the effect of Article Nine on citizen plaintiffs and demonstrate how its ambiguous …

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Logic And Laws: Relief From Statutory Obfuscation, Rudy Engholm Jan 1976

Logic And Laws: Relief From Statutory Obfuscation, Rudy Engholm

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

Ever-expanding use of the legislative process in recent years has resulted in a vast proliferation of statutes and regulations. The Public Acts of the First United States Congress (1789-91) filled only 203 pages. The Public Acts of the Thirty-first Congress (1850-51) filled 227 pages, those of the Sixty-first Congress (1909-11) filled 1459 pages, and those of the Ninety-first Congress (1969-71) filled 2938 pages. In addition, publication of new and recently amended federal regulations contributed to a Federal Register exceeding 45,000 pages in length in 1974. The growth of state statutory materials parallels this trend. Unfortunately, the technology of statutory expression …

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Emerging Standards For Implied Actions Under Federal Statutes, Gary W. Klotz Jan 1976

Emerging Standards For Implied Actions Under Federal Statutes, Gary W. Klotz

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article will examine the theoretical basis for finding implied causes of action in legislation and the development of the implication doctrine in the federal courts. In particular, the Cort v. Ash case will be discussed, both in terms of the standards articulated by the Supreme Court in dicta and the potential impact of Cort on the law of implied remedies.

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Michigan's Environmental Protection Act Of 1970: A Progress Report, Joseph L. Sax, Roger L. Conner May 1972

Michigan's Environmental Protection Act Of 1970: A Progress Report, Joseph L. Sax, Roger L. Conner

Michigan Law Review

The Michigan Environmental Protection Act of 1970 (EPA) represents a departure from the long-standing tradition under which control of environmental quality has been left almost exclusively in the hands of regulatory agencies: it gives to ordinary citizens an opportunity to take the initiative in environmental law enforcement.

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Facially Neutral Criteria And Discrimination Under Title Vii: "Built-In Headwinds" Or Permissible Practices?, Dianne Brou Fraser Jan 1972

Facially Neutral Criteria And Discrimination Under Title Vii: "Built-In Headwinds" Or Permissible Practices?, Dianne Brou Fraser

University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform

This article discusses how Title VII affects the operation of these facially neutral practices and attempts to determine when such practices are unlawful under Title VII. It also discusses the possible effects of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 on this problem.

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Statutory Interpretation: The Uses And Anatomy Of Context, Reed Dickerson Jan 1972

Statutory Interpretation: The Uses And Anatomy Of Context, Reed Dickerson

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Every communication that is generated by a written instrument consists of two elements which must be considered in arriving at the meaning of the communication. Those elements are: (1) the written vehicle itself, and (2) its surrounding context. The surrounding context which thus completes the communication consists only of those underlying cultural aspects which, when considered in relation to the written vehicle, are: (1) relevant to the written vehicle, (2) reliable, (3) shared by the author and the audience, and (4) relied on by both author and audience to complete the communication. The author suggests that those cultural elements which …

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Direct Judicial Review And The Doctrine Of Ripeness In Administrative Law, Joseph Vining Aug 1971

Direct Judicial Review And The Doctrine Of Ripeness In Administrative Law, Joseph Vining

Articles

There has been recent interest in rationalizing and codifying the opportunities for judicial review of federal administrative determinations outside an enforcement context or special proceedings designated by statute. Abbott Laboratories v. Gardner culminated the development of a strong judicial presumption in favor of such review, founded in general considerations and justified by the broad language of the Administrative Procedure Act (AP A or Act). Since the petitioners in Abbott had theoretical rights to later review of the agency position in enforcement proceedings, the Court called the procedure "pre-enforcement" review. But similar opportunities for immediate and direct review of agency positions …

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Military Law--"In Time Of War" Under The Uniform Code Of Military Justice: An Elusive Standard, Michigan Law Review Feb 1969

Military Law--"In Time Of War" Under The Uniform Code Of Military Justice: An Elusive Standard, Michigan Law Review

Michigan Law Review

This Note will present such an analysis, investigate the deficiencies of the current language in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and suggest an alternative to the elusive standard that presently exists.

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